Buddhist tempwes are an important part of de Korean wandscape. This articwe gives a brief overview of Korean Buddhism, den describes some of de more important tempwes in Korea. Most Korean tempwes have names ending in -sa (사, 寺), which means "tempwe" in Sino-Korean.

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A distinctive form of Buddhism evowved in Korea. This was faciwitated by de geographicaw wocation and cuwturaw conditions. Buddhism first arrived in Korea in 372 in Goguryeo. In 374 de infwuentiaw Han Chinesemonk Ado arrived in de kingdom and inspired King Sosurim of Goguryeo de fowwowing year. The first two tempwes Seongmunsa and Iwbuwwansa were buiwt in 375 on de order of de king. Buddhism soon became de nationaw rewigion of Goguryeo.

Wif de advent of Taoism in 624 de ruwers began to suppress Buddhism and its importance qwickwy decwined. The Baekje Kingdom, on de oder hand, fwourished under de infwuence of Buddhism. In 552 Buddhist scriptures were sent to Japan. This eventuawwy wed to de estabwishment of Buddhism in Japan, uh-hah-hah-hah.

In Siwwa, Buddhism was important, too. It fwourished during de reign of Jinheung of Siwwa (540 to 576). Heungnyunsa was buiwt, where any commoner couwd become a monk. The study of scriptures was greatwy highwighted. For about 250 years Buddhism drived in Later Siwwa.

Buddhism was admired by Wang Geon, who was endroned as Taejo of Goryeo. Throughout de country pagodas and oder Buddhist structures were buiwt.

In wate Goryeo, Buddhism became winked wif corruption of de regime. A great number of monks were invowved in powitics. Bit by bit anti-Buddhist sentiments grew, weading to chaos which was ended by de estabwishment of Joseon. Taejo of Joseon himsewf was a devout Buddhist, but de infwuence of monks was reduced. At times monks were treated as outcasts, but generawwy dere was no hindrance to deir practising. Buddhist heritage can be found aww over de country in de form of tempwes, pagodas, scuwptures, paintings, handicrafts and buiwdings.

Sansingak (산신각, 山神閣) - a shamanic shrine dedicated to de mountain god Sanshin (산신, 山神), who can be depicted as bof a mawe or a femawe.[3] Sometimes cawwed chiwseong-gak (칠성각, 七星閣) or samseong-gak (삼성각, 三星閣), dis shrine is usuawwy found behind de main shrine haww.

It is reported dat many tempwes have been taken over by de state. Once de government controws dese buiwdings, dey are used mainwy as museums of ancient Korean traditions. A few tempwes are stiww in use and dey are considered Nationaw Treasures. Though few tempwes in warge cities survived de US carpet bombings of de Korean War, many stiww survive in ruraw areas, and some of de more famous, warge tempwes destroyed have since been rebuiwt (such as de Ryongtongsa and Singyesa). Aww in aww, dere are 300 tempwes,[4] but onwy in a few are rewigious services permitted. In de wist [1] dat fowwows, tempwes marked wif a "×" were destroyed during de Korean War or no wonger exist for oder reasons; tempwes marked wif an "*" have been rebuiwt.

The fowwowing wist is given by provinces (SK=Souf Korea, NK=Norf Korea), but it awso can be sorted by Romanized or Korean names.
Some Korean names, and founding dates are to be compweted (de founding date appwies to de wocation, even if none of de originaw structures survive).
Recommended powicy: no new entries, except from tempwes having deir own Engwish page in Wikipedia.